A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DESIGNER

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Posted on 24 May 2018

Categories: Opinion

At MX Display we work on some of the biggest and best projects – floor decals, fabric graphics, or creative workspaces, we’ve experienced it all!

From the initial meeting with our clients to the designing, printing, and finally the installation, our job is to create high-quality printed graphics and signage for commercial spaces and public areas. Whether it’s massive window displays, wayfinding signage or wacky floor decals, we love what we do!

But have you ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? Where we get the inspiration for our incredible installations from? Or how we get a project from paper to portable displays? Well, you might just be in luck…

In an exclusive sneak peek, this blog takes you behind the scenes to find out just how the magic happens with a day in the life of a designer!

So, let’s get started…

Hi Emma – tell us about your role at MX Display!

I’m Emma and I’m the senior creative at MX. Because my role is described as ‘creative’ it means that it isn’t just designing that I do – I must think creatively. That might be designing something visual, copywriting for marketing materials, or thinking of a clever solution to a production problem. Sometimes I advise on materials and print techniques to achieve a specific finish for the client – often working together with their team to deliver collaborative excellence and design-led solutions to their problems!

Sounds cool! So, what’s the first thing on the agenda today? Tell us about your average day.

I start work at 8 am, so I’m usually one of the first few people to get into the office. Jack and Tim are often already at their desks and the production team start at 6 am. The first thing I do is sit down, turn on my mac and check my emails. I have every intention of making a round of hot drinks, but then I get sucked into my emails and start replying and actioning stuff – I often don’t take my coat off until 10 am because I’m so engrossed in my work!
Every day is so different here and that’s why I love it. One day I’ll be illustrating a beach scene for a children’s hospital, another I’ll be creating an intricate set of floor decals and the next day I’ll be designing a wallpaper for a hotel in Barcelona.

It sure sounds like you love your job, Emma. Once your coat is off and the emails are answered, what is it you’re working on today?

I’ve just completed a five-day project for a well-known chocolate manufacturer. We’ve taken elements of their national launch campaign and created a suite of internal graphics for their head office to engage with their staff. This included wallpapers, vinyls, tensioned fabrics, posters and foamex boards. Today I’m working on some wallpaper for a large office complex in Paris.

You’re a busy bee! How long does the average job take?

There’s probably a mathematical answer to this but it would be a wildly inaccurate reflection of the projects we’re involved with. Some jobs can take as little as 15 minutes, others can take two to four days! The whole design process from start to completion can also sometimes be months. So yeah, on average? Somewhere between 15 minutes and three months.

Wow, a lot of work then! When new projects come in, what’s the protocol?

We often have an internal meeting with everyone involved, this often includes account managers and project managers. For smaller jobs, it’s a quick chat or simply an email.

On every project, we work closely with our client and other creatives to deliver practical and achievable solutions to challenging briefs.

It’s really varied then, huh? So, once a job is in, how do you work on it?

I start by researching. When I’m researching for a design, I use online resources such as Pinterest, industry blogs, magazines, and books. When I’m designing, I draw inspiration from things I’ve seen, visited or read.

However, my real creative-springboard for each design project is the brief itself. The brief forms a boundary around how far I can push the creative. Often, this is budget, but sometimes it’s more interesting criteria such as a brand document, meeting environmental requirements or making something child-proof etc. I also work closely with other creatives at other firms and the clients, developing ideas and working collaboratively together to get a perfect result.

In terms of the tools, I use industry software from the Adobe Creative Cloud, namely Illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat. But I also use good old-fashioned pencils, pens, and paper and occasionally a lightbox.

Sounds interesting… Do you have a favourite type of project?

I love designing window graphics when they’re colourful, because the light effects they create can totally transform a space. Then the design goes beyond the window itself and can become floor and wall graphics too. Clever stuff! Another personal favourite is floor decals.

How does it feel seeing something you’ve worked on go out into the world?

It’s what gets me up in the morning.

Well, we don’t know about you, but we’re feeling seriously inspired by Emma’s anecdotes! Like all of the team here at MX Display, she’s passionate and enthusiastic about her job, and that shines through in everything we do.

We design, create and install everything from custom window decals, and custom vinyl lettering to floor decals and wayfinding signage, all made to the highest of standards with the utmost care and attention.

Our state-of-the-art production facility and in-house creative studio means we can provide you with a full service – making us the obvious choice for any display graphic and signage work you may need.

So, if you’re interested in working with a passionate team who’ll turn your ideas into reality, get in touch today.